LATEST ISSUE

In this special retrofit issue we launch our new RetroFirst campaign championing reuse in the built environment. We also announce the winners of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2019 covering 18 different categories; as well as building studies of two retrofit projects: Orms’ conversion of council offices into a hotel in Camden, north London; and Flower Michelin Architects’ Shingle House renovation and extension of a seaside ...

The 2.15 hectare project for the US Department of State was approved last night by local authority Wandsworth Council’s planning committee.

The design features an 11-storey, cube-shaped ‘chancery’ building which features a glazed north-facing elevation and a self-cleaning ETFE shell on remaining three sides.

A new public plaza will be located to the south of the building while three single storey entrance pavilions will provide access to the embassy.

The design also features landscaped gardens, walkways and a large pond designed by Olin landscape architects. The upper floors of the chancery building will include six internal gardens.

There would also be space set aside for a new Barclay cycle hire docking station.

Wandsworth Council’s planning chairman Cllr Nick Cuff said: ‘This remarkable building will be a fitting centrepiece for the new Nine Elms and could be among the highest performing buildings in the world in terms of energy use and sustainability.

‘The Embassy’s move is already acting as a magnet for new investment in this part of London which has started to change on an enormous scale. Once it opens its doors the complex will attract more than 1,000 visitors everyday – boosting the local economy and brining new life to this stretch of the South Bank.’

The AJ supports the architecture industry on a daily basiswith in-depth news analysis, insight into issues that are affecting the industry, comprehensive building studies with technical details and drawings, client profiles, competition updates as well as letting you know who’s won what and why.